Pattern reversing mechanism for electromechanical knitting machines



July 1, 1941'. s. R. SHELMIRE PATTERN REVERSING MECHANISM FORELECTROMECHANICAL KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 16, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheetl InvenZ-or- STANLEY R. SHELMIRE y 1941- s. R. SHELMIRE 2.247.967

PATTERN REVERSING MECHANISM FOR ELECTROMECHANICAL KNITTING MACHINES 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 16, 1940 fizveniar ST'A-N LEY R. S HELMIRE1941- s. R. SHIELMIREF 47.967

PATTERN REVERSING MECHANISM FOR ELECTROMECHANICAL KNITTING MACHINESFiled March 16, 1940 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 74 i .4 T :1 f 75 STANLEY R.SHELMIRE y his alflzwvzeys Patented July 1, 1941 PATTERN REVERSINGMECHANISM FOR ELECTROIVIECHANICAL KNITTING MA- CHINES Stanley R.Shelmire, Laconia, N. I L, assignor to Scott & Williams; Incorporated,Laconia, N. H., a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 16,1940, Serial No. 324,406

21 Claims.

This invention relates to independent needle knitting machines adaptedto make patterned fabric by stitch variation and more particularly to amachine of the type described in which the needle selection for thepattern elfects is secured by the scanning'of a pattern byelectrical'devices and it is an object of this invention to provide animproved control of the movements of the scanning device. It is a,further objectof this invention to provide means for automaticallyeffecting a' reversal or the movement of the scanning device in suchmanner that a break in the pattern effectsiwill not occur. It is also anobject of this invention to provide an operating means for the scanningdevice of a knitting machine of the type described which comprises aclutch arranged to effect the operation of the scanning means inopposite directions and a means for operating the clutch to effect areversal of the direction of operating of the scanning means.

In the drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of thisinvention- Figure 1 is a partial broken view, partly in elevation andpartly in section, of a knitting machine in accordance with thisinvention, only such parts of the knitting machine being shown as arenecessary to illustrate the invention;

Figure 2 is a partial view in side elevation of the structure of Figure1, the structure being viewed as indicated by the arrow 2 in Figure 1and parts being broken away to show other parts more clearly.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the structure ofFigure 1, the structure being viewed as indicated by the arrow 3 inFigure 1, parts being broken away and omitted to show other parts moreclearly.

Figures 4, and 6 are sectional views of the clutch for reversing theoperation of the scanning device and the gearing with which the clutchis associated, Figure 4 showing the clutch engaged for driving thedevice in one direction; Figure 5 showing the clutch in the position inwhich it is held after the operation thereof is started and before thefinal portion of the clutch movement can be made, and Figure 6 showingthe position of the clutch upon the completion of its movement andengaged for driving the device in the opposite direction;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the upper portion of adriving means for the support for the fabric take-up mechanism;

Figure 8 is a similar view of the bottom portion of the drive of Figure7; and

Figures 9 and 10 are views similar to Figure 2 of a modifiedconstruction. H

In the drawings the invention is shown in connection with an independentneedle knitting machine of the type in which the needle selection forpattern effects is secured by the scanning of a pattern by electricaldevices asshown in the patent to A. E. Page, No. 2,129,148, issued Sept.6, 1938. As shown such a machine comprises a frame A in which the needlecylinder 11, the pattern cylinder and the support 40 for the fabrictake-up mechanism are rotatably mounted and so connected as to rotate insyn chronism, the pattern cylinder 65' beingmounted on a gear 68 whichis fixed on the shaft 69 which supports the dial. The support for thefabric take-upmechanism is driven from gear teeth I! on the needlecylinder ll through a gear 3| meshing with the gear teeth I! and fixedon a shaft 33 and a gear 35 fixed on the shaft 33 and meshing with thegear teeth 411 On the support 40. Slidably mounted on the rods IDcarried by the frameA are the cross heads 'H' carrying the scanningmechanisms [2 which are reciprocated on the rods I0 to cover the desiredportion or portions of the pattern-cylindei'lfi by means of threadedshafts M which are connected for simultaneous operation by the shaft l6and the bevel gears 18 and 20'; rh ymreaded shafts I4 are driven from,the gear 68, by' means of a gear train '22 whichincludesspaeedbevergears 13 and 14 freely rotatable on the threaded shaft I4 andcaused torotate in opposite directions by means of an intermediate gear15. slidably keyed to the threaded shaft l'4 between the gears 13 and Mis a clutch member 16' havin oppositely directed tapered lugs or teeth16* and 16* adapted to be engaged in correspondingly shaped notches Hia'nd'ld' in the gears-13' and '14 respectively. The lugs lfi land 16 arealined and the over-all length at the lugs is slightly greater than thedistance between thegears 13 and '14 so that one lug can not bedisengaged from its notch until the otherlug is engaged .in its notch.The changing of the connection of the clutch member 16 from one to theother'of the gears 13 and 14 is shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6; Figure 4showing the clutch member 16 engaged with the gear 14 to rotate thethreaded shaft 14 in one direction; Figure .5 showing the'lug 16 partlywithdrawn from the notch M butheld in engagement therewith until thenotch '13 is again alined with the lug. 15 and Figure 6 showing theclutch member 15 disengaged from the gear '14 and engaged with the gear13.

3 [At its other end the lever 24 has a pin and slot 1 H connection withan'end of a lever 26 which is fixed on an end of a rod or shaft 28journalled in; r

a bracket 38 mounted on a rod I8 and in a bracket 32 carried by themachine frame}! Attached to the lever 24 intermediate its ends i's abeveled finger 25 adapted to be engaged by a pivoted detent member 2'1operatedby a spring 28 to oppose movement of the lever 24 and clutchmemberl'o to disengage the clutch member from" j either of the gears 13and 14.

Attits other end the rod 28'has fixed'thereon a lever 34 having openingsat the opposite ends thereof through which extend rods 35, 36. At theirupper ends the rods-'35, 36 have'collars 3? fixed thereon so thateither" red when drawn down, will operate the lever 34. -At their lower.

ends the; rods 35; 36- extend through'endsof levers 38, 39,respectively, and are provided' with collars 43, adjustably'fixedthereon so thatwhen the endof' a lever' is lowered the corresponding,rodis drawn down.

The'levers-138, 39 are mounted to pivot freely onarodfl 'supportedin abracket or housing 42 attached to the frame, which bracket or housingalso serves to support the shaft 44 on which is fixed the usual mainpattern drum (not shown),

the ratchet wheel-45 for operating the shaft 44 chain 41. Each lever,when raised by 2. lug on. the pattern chain,"'draws down its associatedrod and operates the lever sigma 28, lever 26 and lever 24 to shift theclutch member 16 from one gearto the other. The sprocket wheel 46 isoperated to'place the lugs on the pattern chain 41 under one or theother of the levers 38 and 36 by the'rotation of the shaft 44 by theratchet wheel '45. The operation of'the'levers 38 and 38 by the lugs"on'the patternchain'fl is timed to take place whenthenotches 13 and Hiof the gears 13 andl4frespectively, are not alined so the clutch memberdoes not make its complete movement at once and the various rods andlevers are held, under a strain, particularly the rod 28 which istwisted slightly, 'untilithe notches i3 and 14 aline andithe'movement ofthe "clutch member 16 is'completed because of the elasticity of thevarious rods and levers. I i

To operate theratchet'wheel 45 there is providedfa' lever 50 pivotallymounted at 5| in the bracket or housing 42 and having, at one' endthereof, a pivotally mounted pawl 52 which engages the teeth of theratchet wheel 45. other end'of the lever '58. is positioned to' be,en-

gaged by'the adjustablecontact 53 in the outer end of an arm 54 fixed onthe upper endof'a rod 56 which is rotatably'supplorted' in the frame Aand housing 42. To the lower'end of therod 56 there is secured an arm 51carrying a roller 58'p0s itioned to be engaged by a cam 59 carried bythe take-up mechanismsupport' ifl. The cam 59 is rot atedwith thesupport 48 in synchronism with the needle cylinder and engages theroller Home in each revolution causing the rod 56 to beoscillated'and'the lever 58 and pawl 52 The operated to advance theratchet wheel once for each revolution of the needle cylinder. A spring60 attached to the lever 56 and the machine frame retracts the lever andpawl after each 7 operation and returns the arm 51 and roller 58 toposition forengagement by the cam 59.

Control of the scanning means by the pattern chain permits of varyingthe extent of the movement of the scanning means so that different partsor all of the pattern on the pattern cyl-' inder may be repeated asdesired. In the 'modification shown in Figures 9 and 10 the cross-headll carrying the scanning mechanism is operated by the threaded shaft I4and the gears 13 and 14 are engaged by the clutch member 76 to rotatethe shaft l4 as in the construction just described. The lever 24 whichoperatesthe clutch member 16, however, is ended at the finger 25 whichengages the detent 21 and at a short distance from its pivot'the lever24 has pivotally connected thereto a rod 88 which extends through alinedopenings in the bracket 23 and lugs extending from the cross-head l Iand the cap member 8|. Adjustably secured on the rod 88 on oppositesides of the lugof the cross head l I are the collars 82 and 83 andsurrounding the rod 86 between the collar'sand the lug on the cross-headI l' are the springs 84, 85. The cross-head II in itsmovement on therods l8 engages thexlug with one or the other of the springs '84, 85causing the rod to be movedlongitudi nally and operating the lever 24 toshift the clutch member 16 and reverse the operation of the threadedshaft l4 and the movement of the scanning mechanism. t

In this construction the springs 84 and 85 will be engaged while thenotches 13 and. 14 are not alined and will be compressed during themovement of the gears 13 and" to aline the notches so that the finalmovements of the lever 24 and.

1. In a knitting machine, areciprocating ele-v ment, oppositely movingmembers, a clutch element for selectively operating said reciprocatingelement from saidmoving members and operat.- ing means for said clutchelement comprising' resilientmeans stressed by operation of'said'operating means while said clutch element is held engaged with oneof said oppositely moving members by the other of said oppositely movingmembers. V

2. In a knitting machine, a reciprocating. element, oppositely movingmembers, a clutch element for selectively operating said reciprocatingelement from 'said moving members, operating means for said clutchelement comprising resilient means stressed by operation ofsaidboperating means while said clutch member is held engaged with oneof said oppositely moving members by theotherof said oppositelymovin'g'members, said resilient means completing movement offl saidclutch element from engagement with the one of said oppositely movingmembers to engagement with the other of said oppositely moving membersupon release of said clutch element by said other of saidoppositelypmoving members'and pattern means controlling saidoperatingmeans.

3. In a, knitting machine, a-reciprocating element, oppositely movingmembers, a clutch element for selectively operating said reciprocatingelement from said moving members and means for operating said clutchelement by the operation of said reciprocating element, said meanscomprising resilient mean stressed" by Operation of said operatingmeanswhile said clutch element is held engaged with one of said oppositelymoving members by the other of said oppositely moving members.

4. In a knitting machine, a reciprocating element, a threaded shaft forreciprocating said element, oppositely rotating driving means, a clutchelement for selectively operating said shaft from said driving means,said clutch element being disengageable from one driving means only uponengagement with-the other driving means, and operating means for saidclutch element comprising resilient means stressed by operation of saidoperating means while said clutch element is held engaged with one ofsaid driving means by the other of said driving means.

5. In a knitting machine, a pattern scarring device, a threaded shaftfor reciprocatingsaid scanning device, oppositely rotating drivingmeans, a clutch element for selectively operating said shaft from saiddriving means said clutch element being disengageable from one drivingmeans only uponengagement with the other driving means, operating meansfor said clutch .element comprising resilient 1 means stressed byoperation of said operating means while said clutch element is heldengaged with one of said driving means by the other of said drivingmeans and pattern means controlling the operation of said operatingmeans.

6. In a knitting machine, a pattern scanning device, a threaded shaftfor reciprocating said scanning device, oppositely rotating drivingmeans, a clutch element for selectively operating said shaft from saiddriving means, said clutch element being disengageable from one drivingmeans only upon engagement with the other driving means and means foroperating said clutch element by the operation of said scanning devicecomprising resilient means stressed by operation of said operating meanswhile said clutch element is held engaged with one of said driving meansby the other of said driving means, said resilient means completingmovement of said clutch element from one operative position to theother.

7. In a knitting machine, a pattern scanning device, a threaded shaftfor reciprocating said scanning device, oppositely rotating drivingmeans, a clutch element for selectively connecting said shaft to saiddriving means, said clutch element being disengageable from one drivingmeans only upon engagement with the other driving means and operatingmeans for said clutch element comprising yieldable means for shiftingsaid clutch element from one operative position to another, said clutchelement being held in engagement with one driving means by the otherdriving means while said yieldable means are stressed for the operationof said clutch element.

8. In a knitting machine, a pattern scanning device, a threaded shaftfor reciprocating said scanning device, oppositely rotating drivingmeans, a clutch element for selectively connecting said shaft to saiddriving means, said clutch element being disengageable from one drivingmeans only upon engagement with the other driving means, operating meansfor said clutch element comprising yieldable means placed under stressfor the operation of said clutch element while said clutch element isheld engaged with one driving means by the other driving means andpattern means for stressing said yieldable means.

9. Ina knitting machine, a pattern scanning deviee,'a threaded shaft forreciprocating said scanning device, oppositely rotatingdriving means, aclutch element for selectively connecting saidshaft tosaid drivingmeans, said clutch element being disengageable from one driving meansonly upon engagement with the other driving means and means foroperating said clutch element by the operation of saidscanning' device,said means comprising yielding means placed under stress for theoperation of said clutch by the operation of said scanning device whilesaid clutch element is held engaged with one driving means by the otherdrivingmeans.

- '10. In a knitting machine, a pattern scanning device, oppositelymoving members, a clutch element for selectively operating said scanningdevice from said moving members and means for operating said clutchelement for changing the connection of said scanning device from onemoving member to the other with said clutch element held temporarily atan intermediate operating position in its operating movement.

11. In a knitting machine, a pattern scanning device, oppositely movingmembers, a clutch element for selectively operating said scanning devicefrom said moving members, means forop eratirigsaid clutch element forchanging the connection of said scanning device from one moving memberto the other with said clutch element held temporarily at anintermediate operating position in its operating movement and patternmeans controlling the operation of said clutch element.

12. In a knitting machine, a pattern scanning device, oppositely movingmembers, a clutch element for selectively operating said scanning devicefrom said moving members and means for operating said clutch elementfrom said scanning device for changing the connection of said scanningdevice from one moving member to the other with said clutch element heldtemporarily at an intermediate operating position in its operatingmovement.

13. In a knitting machine, a pattern scanning device, oppositely movingmembers, a clutch element for selectively operating said scanning devicefrom said moving members, said clutch element being disengageable fromone moving member and engageable with the other with said moving membersin a single relation and operating means for said clutch elementinitiating the operation thereof with said moving members in otherrelations.

14. In a knitting machine, a pattern scanning device, oppositely movingmembers, a clutch element for selectively operating said scanning devicefrom said moving members, said clutch element being disengageable fromone moving member and engageable with the other with said moving membersin a single relation, operating means for said clutch element initiatingthe operation thereof with said moving members in other relations andpattern means controlling said operating means.

15. In a knitting machine, a pattern scanning device, oppositely movingmembers, a clutch element for selectively operating said scanning devicefrom said moving members, said clutch element being disengageable fromone moving member and engageable with the other with said moving membersin a single relation and. means operating said clutch element from saidscanning means and initiating the operation thereof with said movingmembers in other relations.

device, oppositely moving members, a cluteh element ion-selectivelyoperating said scanning 'device from said moving members, operatingmeans for-said clutchelement' and pattern means'controlling theoperation of said operating means, said operating means comprisingresilient means stressed by said pattern means for the operation ofzsaid clutch element. r I 17.-In a knitting machine. a pattern scanningdevice, oppositely moving members, a clutch element for selectivelyoperating said scanning de vice -from said moving members and means foroperating said clutch element by the operation oi said scanning devicecomprising resilient means stressed by the operation of said scanningmeans whilesaid clutch element is held in an operative position foroperation of said clutch element when said moving members attain adefinite relation. 18.- In a knitting machine, a reciprocating elementmoving at a constant relative speed to that ofsa primary driving means,oppositely moving members, 'a clutch element for selectivelyoperating-said reciprocating element from said moving members andyieldable operating means for said clutch element causing the reversalof direction of. said reciprocating element while said reciproeatingelement is maintained at a constant relative speed to that ofsaidprimary driving means.

. V 19. In a knitting machine, a recipro'cating eiement, oppositelymoving members, a clutch element for; selectively-operating saidreciprocating element from said moving members, operating means for saidclutch element comprising resilient means "and means forxstressing saidresilient means so as to cause the; reversal of the direction oftheQmotionof said reciprocating element to be substantiallyinstantaneous.

20. In a; knitting machine, a; reciprocating element oppositely movingmembers, a clutch element for selectively operating said reciprocatingelement from said moving members, means op-V erating-said clutchelement, said means comprising a torsion-member for reversing the movement of said reciprocating element and pattern means controlling theoperation, of said clutch operating. means by stressing said torsion-'member. v p: v.

21. In a knitting machine,a patern scanning device,oppositelymovingmembers, a-clutch ele mentff or selectivelyoperating-said scanning device from said moving members, operating meansfor saidclutch element, and patternrmeans. cone structed and arranged tocontrol said operating means to provide a'continuous variable operationof'said scanning device.- l

A STANLEY R. SHEIIJMIREPV CERTIFICATE OF CORREC'IION. I v I v Patent No.2',2h7,967. i Jul 1:,-:1 9Lp1 STANLEY R. SHEL IRE; It is herebycertified. that error appears in the printed specifieation ofthe Abovenumbered patent requiring eorrectibn as foliqwe z Page )4; secondcolumn, lines m and 15, claim 20, strike out the cominafa nd words saidi means comprising a torsion-member? and insei t the same eftei-"elexnemz ',in

1111616, same-claim; line 20, 615m 21', M "patern" ead gttrn gndthat thesaid Letters Patent should beread with this correctionflther 'ei'n Ithat the same-may conformto the record of the case in the PatentOfiic-e',

I Signed and sealed thi's 5th day of August, D. '19LL1. I

Henry Van Arsdale (Sea1)" I I I v, AgtLng Commissioner 0f Patents.

